SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Transportation has launched a $471 million project to widen sections of Interstate 44, redesign major interchanges and improve safety along the heavily traveled southwest Missouri corridor.
The Forward 44 initiative will span from Laclede County to Newton County and include nearly 19 miles of new six-lane interstate between Highway B near Marshfield and Chestnut Expressway in west Springfield. Plans also call for major improvements at the I-44 and Kansas Expressway interchange, a new interchange at Grant Avenue and upgrades at I-44 and I-49 near Fidelity.
Construction is expected to begin this fall in Webster County, with work in the Springfield area beginning in 2027 or 2028 after current I-44 projects are completed. MoDOT officials say the project will improve safety and traffic flow while accommodating heavy freight traffic, with at least two lanes remaining open in each direction during peak daytime travel. The project is expected to take about five years to complete.
